Back To Us (Part III)

Michonne is humming to herself as she makes her way to the constables' office. She decided to do something nice for her husband so she prepared him a hearty lunch and is hand delivering it. She opens the door with a smile and greets her husband and Daryl. She wasn't expecting him to have company but oh well…..

"I brought you some lunch," she announces.

Rick clears his throat as he wasn't expecting to see her and he has yet to dispel a few lasting images of their recent lovemaking session from his mind. "You didn't have to do that, but thank you." He looks longingly at her, allowing his eyes to travel from head to toe.

"I know…..and you're welcome," Michonne counters and she returns a look that is just as heated as his.

Daryl glances from one to the other and shakes his head. "Umm….should I just leave?"

"What? No, no…..I just brought lunch. That's all." Michonne swallows nervously as she can't take her eyes off of her husband even for a moment. "Well, I'll see you later. Carol has Judith, right? I'd like to take her home with me."

Rick nods as he continues to watch her. "Yeah, she's with Carol."

Michonne walks backward toward the door slowly, her eyes never leaving her husband. "Ok." She reaches the door, opens it and lets herself out with a wave.

"What the hell was that about?' She hears Daryl ask before she walks away.

Later that night, Rick can't believe how wonderful his wife's hands feel. After dinner and putting Judith down for the night, she led him into their bathroom and told him she wanted to take care of him. He could only nod as he wasn't sure what that would entail. He watched in fascination as she filled the bathtub with water, then slowly began to undress him.

He is now ensconced in the water with his back nestled against her silken, water drenched chest as she soothingly shampoos his hair. He closes his eyes as he relaxes even more, enjoying her ministrations like nothing he has ever experienced.

After she shampooed his hair, she washed his body like he was a newborn babe, unintentionally eliciting a raging reaction from him. They ended the night in bed, entangled in each other once again.

The next few days pass by seamlessly as Michonne caters to her husband. They complete their duty during the day, arrive home where she cooks dinner and they all eat and converse. Once the kids are off to bed, the married couple spends time together intimately. She is content, but can't help thinking they have avoided talking about what happened between them. She hates to spoil the euphoria they have created but can't continue as they are, not knowing if his anger and slight distrust still linger.

She excused herself early from the dinner table that night, giving Judith a bath and preparing her for bed. She then makes her way to their bedroom and waits for her husband. He walks through the door only moments later, giving her a knowing smile as he makes his way to her side.

"You ok?" He asks cautiously.

She takes a deep breath and releases it slowly. "Are we just going to ignore that we haven't talked about what I did? Things have been really good between us, but I still don't know if you've forgiven me or even if you can. I just need to say something if you're willing to listen."

Rick nods with a sigh, not sure if he wants to discuss the situation but knowing he can't continue to avoid it. "I'll listen."

"First of all, I love you and it was never my intention to hurt you. I just couldn't disappoint you. The thought of us having a baby made you so happy and I didn't want to take that away. I'm sorry for how I handled it. I was wrong. I get so afraid to…to want things in this world. It's all about needs now, right?" She looks to him expectantly, hoping his view on the situation will guide her.

"Needs are important, but we've made a life here. It's not the best but it's good. Wanting things can be good, too. I wanted you, you wanted me. How is that bad?" He asks.

She smirks. "I beg to differ. I think I needed you more than anything. You centered me. Brought me back somehow."

"Yeah, you may have needed me, but the want was there, too, right or are you keeping something else from me?"

"No, the want was there. It's still there," she returns.

"And has it been a bad thing?"

She gives a negative shake of her head.

"Well, that means it's ok to want things. I know we have no guarantees of how everything will work out but I can't stop believing that it will. You shouldn't either."

"I meant what I said before about us trying again. If it happens, that means it was meant to be. I just want….I need to know that you can forgive me and you have to know that I'll never betray your trust again. It was torture not talking to you, not holding you, not making love to you…." She trails off as her husband gives her a heated look.

"I know. I missed you too. I had to work through some thangs and try to understand your situation. I get it now and if it's too much for you, I'll understand. We don't have to do this."

"So you're ok no matter what?"

"No matter what," he reiterates. "And I do forgive you."

"Thank you." She reaches over and grabs one of his hands with a squeeze. "I want you to know that I believe in you. You say we're going to be ok and I trust you….with everything, but if we're going to do this, there is something I'd like to do first."

"What's that?"

"I think we should talk to Carl about it. Find out how he feels about the idea of having another little sister or brother, take his feelings into consideration. He has dealt with a lot," she reminds him.

Rick looks to his wife, his respect for her continuing to grow. "You're right. We'll talk with him about it and make a decision as a family."

"Judith gets a vote, too," she jokes as they share a laugh. She leans in toward him and kisses him sweetly on the cheek.

"I love you so much, Rick Grimes," she tells him.

"And I love you even more, Michonne Grimes," he declares.